64 



furnace with anthracite coal ; as the Franklinite requires a greater 

 degree of heat to cause it to retain its Hquid state, than can be 

 obtained by the use of charcoal. It occurs in grains, imbedded 

 in the w'hite carbonate of lime, and detached in concretions of 

 various sizes, from that of a pin's head to a hickory nut ; also in 

 regular octohedral crystals emarginated on the angles, small at 

 Franklin, but very perfect, with brilliant faces. At Sterling, the 

 crystals are large and perfect. I have one from that place that 

 measures sixteen inches around the base. 



" Red Oxide of Zinc. — At Sterling, three miles from Franklin, 

 a mountain mass of this formation presents itself about two hun- 

 dred feet high. Here, as Mr. Nuttall truly observes, the red 

 oxide of zinc forms, as it w^ere, a paste, in which the crystals of 

 Franklinite are thickly imbedded ; in fact a metalliferous por- 

 phyry. This appears to be best adapted for manufacturing purposes. 

 The Franklinite imbedded in the zinc ore here, is highly magnetic, 

 and may be all separated by magnetic cylinders, recently brought 

 into use to separate the earthy portion of magnetic iron ore. It 

 was long since observed, that this ore is well adapted for the ma- 

 nufacture of the best brass, and may be employed without any 

 previous preparation. It is reduced without any difficulty to a 

 metallic state, and may be made to furnish the sulphate of zinc 

 (white vitriol.) Berthier found it to contain oxide of zinc 88, red 

 oxide of manganese 12. 



" Magnetic Iron Ore. — On the west side of the Franklinite, and 

 often within a few feet of it, appears an abundance of magnetic 

 iron ore, usually accompanied by hornblende rock. In some 

 places it soon runs into the Franklinite, which destroys its useful- 

 ness ; and the largest beds are combined with plumbago, which 

 renders it unprofitable to work in a blooming forge, but valuable 

 in a blast furnace. 



" The other minerals found in this district are numerous, rare, 

 interesting, and several of them new, and not found in any other 

 place, but better calculated to instruct the naturalist and adorn 

 his cabinet, than for any particular uses to which they have as 

 yet been applied. A catalogue which I have subjoined, designates 

 the minerals as they occur in each township. 



" In Byram Township, considered the southwestern extremity 



